The core of a ‘smart’ device or consumer tablet/netbook is the software and despite its shortcomings, the iPhone OS is recognised as the market leader. Android isn’t far behind though and for some, the multitasking and ‘openness’ put it way into the lead. If you want the best Android experience out there, you’ve got to look slightly below the handheld tablet and smartbook category at the new high-end smartphones that are appearing. The Droid/Milestone, Nexus 1, HTC Desire and Xperia X10 are fast, fluid and a lot of fun. Only 10 days ago I bough an Xperia X10 and I’ve been writing about it on a sub-blog at XperiaX10.Carrypad.com Yesterday evening I posted the second part of my first impressions.

Overall it’s an impressive bit of kit with a fast browser, great daylight camera, enjoyable UI and of course, seamless access to Google applications and the thousands of Google Marketplace applications.

It’s a highly converged device and for anyone looking for the ultimate in web-capable smartphones, it’s up there with the best of them but I can’t help thinking that it would be even more enjoyable if it were simply a handheld tablet rather than a smartphone. On a 5” screen the experience would be way more useful/readable and the on screen keyboard would be much easier to type on. Finger-sized icons and menu items would take less effective screen space and there would be space for a battery that would last more than the 9-12hours that I get out of the X10 when I start using it like it should be.

I discussed the topic of convergence over at UMPCPortal and put the argument forward that I might be better off with something bigger and a separate phone but right now there isn’t much choice out there so the question is, do I keep the X10 or sell it and drop back to my trusty N82 while I wait?

Of course, that’s just me. I know that the majority of people out there just want one device if possible and if that you, take a closer look at the XperiaX10 blog because I’m continuing to test the device from every perspective. I’ll also be interested to hear from Droid/Milestone, Nexus One, Desire owners too. How do you feel about total convergence?

5 Responses to “The Xperia X10 Mini Tablet. Some Even Call It a Phone!”

I agree, 5 inch screen is better. I have already decided to go for the Dell mini 5/streak for any internet activity, gps etc. And then get a slim sleak phone for what they were made for, phone calls and text.

Anything below 5 is just a hassle, you all know it but not many dare to admit it

yes, saw that. More interestingly was the dell phone news though.
depending on size, i want me one of those Lightning.
because like i said, 5 inch is too small and a phone needs a hardware keyboard. touch screen, well i at least, always have to go over my texts and correct them before sending.(and i dont even have big fat fingers to blame it on)

I hadn’t commenced up maps, although had used them a day or two prior to but the phone had been rebooted since then. Checking about the about performance showed that roadmaps had been the trigger of 70% of the total battery drain. Naturally I killed it, nevertheless it keeps restarting. Now I don’t need to uninstall Yahoo and google roadmaps since it can be a genuinely practical performance and have utilised it successfully as saatnav on numerous occasions and found it to be additional uptodate and accurate than my dedicated satnav. But is there a setting somewhere that I could tweak to stop it from commencing up except when I start it myself? Running a job killer with a scheduled basis and obtaining it kill maps just isn’t a fix for me, as what takes place when I wish to use it and locate it becoming killed often.

I have an mini tab. I have a problem with the camera. It only takes pix of me. How do I change the setttings. Glad to know someone knows about this thing. Can’t download Pandora radio. Boo hiss on that one. Can u help?